Here is a NASA litho that states on the back that these are the astronauts that used the LLTV. (Thanks benfairfax for photo...)

ambrous

Thanks for the nice image. I had a bit of trouble reading the signatures, but I did not see Armstrong, Conrad or Lovell on it. Perhaps the names are those who flew the LLTV and not the LLRV or just this particular LLTV?

More than you can imagine about the LLRV and LLTV. Includes mostly complete logs of LLRV 1 and 2 flights, and summary totals (no detailed logs though) of astronaut training flights. Good stuff!

Henry Heatherbank

Given that Young, Gordon and Cernan flew it, I guess it is safe to assume it was in use until some time in 1971? I am assuming Young first flew it as Apollo 13 backup CDR in 1969/70, Cernan as Apollo 14 backup CDR in 1970 and Gordon as Apollo 15 backup CDR in 1970/71.

Did Young or Cernan then fly it into 1972 as prime crew CDRs in training for Apollo 16 and 17, respectively (or for that matter, did Gordon fly it whilst still in the running as candidate for Apollo 17 CDR once Apollo 18 had been axed?).

Prior to this topic, I had assumed it was no longer used after 1969, once Apollo 11 and 12 were out of the way, because of safety concerns, and that NASA considered it an unnecessary risk.

heng44

Scott, Young and Cernan flew it as CDR about one month prior to their respective launches. I have photos of all three in the cockpit. The backup CDRs also flew it in that timeframe. The tethered LLRF at Langley was discontinued in 1970, but the LLTV flew until November 1972. I believe Armstrong and Conrad stressed that the LLTV simulated the LM landing very accurately.

It appears to have footage of Jim McDivitt flying the LLTV at 5:54. I am not sure why this would be needed for flying the LM in Earth orbit. Although with the editing, he may be on some other device and not the LLTV. But, why would this NASA film even have footage of the LLTV in flight if it was not used for the flight?

randy

In the book "Unconventional, Contrary and Ugly: The Lunar Landing Research Vehicle", the following pilots are also mentioned:

quote:Originally posted by ambrous:It appears to have footage of Jim McDivitt flying the LLTV at 5:54.

I asked McDivitt about that for an article I wrote on the LLTV many years ago. He said he and Schweickart only flew the tethered LLRF at Langley, not the LLRV/LLTV.

The footage of McDivitt in the film suggests he flew the LLTV, but it is actually of the parachute training that you see right after this segment. Astronauts are pushed off a wooden tower in a sort of ejection seat. The cutaway shot of a group of astronauts looking up was also filmed during this parachute training. Mixing it with actual footage of the LLTV is confusing, to say the least.

Don't let the hoax-believers hear this...

Jay Chladek

I seem to recall that Bill Anders also flew it, but I don't know if his flights were related to the original high orbit LM test intended for Borman's crew, or if he was part of the astronaut crew that would evaluate the LLTV for a practical use as a landing simulation.